EASY WAYS TO REDUCE WASTE | ZERO WASTE FOR BEGINNERS | MEGHAN HUGHES

[@kd7704]

My friend and I used to save bottles and cans to take them to the recycling center for money. We'd get like $50 bucks each for 4 bags of recycling. Then that would be our weed money for the month lol

[@jennn222]

K D u & ur friend R amazing !! Lol something I’m gonna start doing (:

[@Shelbizleee]

Ahhh so glad you made this video Meghan! You have a larger platform for change but I have been trying to inform people about this on my channel too!

[@brusselmonroe9472]

I love your Chanel Shelby

[@rsinhilton]

I love you Shelbie!!!!

[@NikiKuchipudi]

Some other tips that I personally use: 1. I love to try new restaurants, but I try to eat in instead of ordering food to go to avoid food packaging. When I do order food for takeout, I go to the restaurant, bring my own tupperware and ask them if it'd be cool for them to pop it in there instead of whatever packaging they use. Most places are cool with it if you ask nicely! Being nice is huge! Plus, they remember you sometimes and I've struck up some great conversations with people this way about waste. 2. Buy things used or secondhand as much as possible. Thrift your clothes, buy used books, etc. 3. Eat more unprocessed foods. Whole foods that are good for you are usually unpackaged at the store. 4. I use Dr.Bronner's bar soap for my body, face, and hair. Comes wrapped in paper, works great. Might not work for everyone but give it a shot! 5. I use Jojoba oil to moisturize my face and as a styling product for my wavy/curly hair. I use coconut oil for my body, lips, and as a hair mask. Both come packaged in glass. Nature's beauty products are so multi-functional! 5. Apply for paperless banking/bills if you can. 6. Eat local and seasonal produce to avoid buying food that was shipped to you from far away. 7. Go vegan! Even if you just eat vegan for one day every week or maybe you just eat vegan lunches throughout the week, do whatever works for you. The demand for animal products is insane and terrible for the earth, so any thing you can do helps!

[@Alliappalachian]

Niki Kuchipudi Awesome tips! Thanks!

[@melissathw]

I went vegan 2 years ago and have recently decided to do more baby steps and make even more better habits to save our planet! :) BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD

[@brusselmonroe9472]

me too! I found a youtube called shelbizle who makes other videos about how to help the environment

[@vanessaf714]

Ghandi!!

[@awkwardBAMFx]

Also important: you can't recycle plastic bags because they clog the machine that sorts plastic at the recycling facility!

[@Darahtheavatar]

There are some places (at least here in OR) that will accept and recycle plastic bags. Home Depot/Lowes/grocery stores. :)

[@snowysandysparky]

Walmart does too. Target. I think Best Buy? Speaking of Best Buy, they have bins right in the door with SO many options to recycle batteries, CDs, etc.

[@jasmine3637]

some places will recycle plastic bags! I think it depends. That's why it's super important to always check on the recycling bin itself or online to determine if certain things can be recycled or not :)

[@YouthIsWaisted]

Target will recycle them for you!

[@Bronxchick92]

Thanks, I just learned something new. I don't put plastic bags in my recycling bin but I do remember my sister left all her recyling items in a plastic bag once and then dumped it in the recycling bin and without a real reason I knew the plastic bag shouldn't be in there and I took it out.

[@TheFunballerina]

Where I live they finally BANNED plastic bags. Like in every store no matter if it is a local store or a huge corporation like target or cvs. I’m so happy now they only have paper bags

[@meghanhughes]

thats dope! where do u live?

[@TheFunballerina]

Meghan Hughes Miami, Fl but the area where they did it is like the “town” that I live in called coral gables ✌🏼

[@gemmadawn]

That is crazy amazing! In Victoria, Australia the major supermarkets have banned single use plastic bags only to replace them with a "reusable & more durable" plastic bag.

[@kelseyrepasky3068]

California made it to where you have to pay for plastic bags. It’s basically useless because everyone still pays for bags

[@bd1043]

Kelsey Repasky agreed. They’re literally only like 10 cents -_-

[@samwhitelaw9734]

I would so love to see more garden videos! I’m trying to start growing some stuff and you’re low key my inspiration 😁 I’m going to try find some muslin bags for produce, and hopefully transition to a natural laundry detergent, and wool dryer balls! (also a tip for period-ing people who aren’t ready for a diva cup, try to find organic, unbleached, hopefully compostable cotton tampons! The brand I use comes in a cardboard box, and even though they are wrapped in plastic I’m saving a bit 😇

[@purplemataya]

I LOVE this video!! I’m so inspired by the no waste life style and this video was so helpful and inspiring! I just find it difficult for me because everyone else in my family think I’m crazy because I’m always saying ‘plastic is bad for the environment! Let’s be more aware of how much waste we create!’ Love you big sister meg!!

[@erinburns1917]

I'm definitely going to look into getting muslin bags for my produce. It's been ingrained in me since I was a kid to use reusable grocery bags but I could never think of a good alternative to the plastic produce bags. Thanks for always using your platform for good and spreading sunshine. Love you girl keep doing what you're doing!

[@strokes17jules]

Reward systems is what will make the change! In Switzerland, plastic bags used to be free in supermarkets. Now they cost 0.05 CHF which is literally nothing (you can't buy anything else for that little money). And although they are so ridiculously cheap now the usage of plastic back has gone back by 80%!!! The government has to encourage the people with financial incentives and things will effectively change.

[@gabriellaamanda9155]

here for the eco-friendly vibes

[@MinimalistBosnian]

ECO FRIENDLY NOTIFICATION SQUAD !!! AYEEE

[@KarouAuri]

YES!! I wish more youtubers would talk about this! So much of the content on youtube is based on consumerism and so much of that involves plastic and fast fashion - the effects of those on our planet are so detrimental! :( Glad that you are making an effort and encouraging everyone else to do the same! Your mom is a hero! :)

[@amandarojas5990]

I’m changing (actually today is my first day wearing it) from pads to a menstrual cup and period panties! I’m so happy to eliminate that wasteful single use item from my life. Btw if anyone is wondering I had NO problem with the cup. Even for my first use! It’s just like wearing a tampon, but better cause there’s no awkward string and I’m not producing any waste. ❤️

[@cruzjade97]

I love love love this! I started toward a zero waste lifestyle last year. I do many of the things you talked about and a few I am still working towards. I no longer buy any paper products, including any form of toilet paper. I have created a zero waste method for this. I have crocheted myself reusable dish rags and used old towels to creating cleaning rags. I have also started making my own household cleaners and detergents. I have started making my own deodorant and shampoo and stopped shaving to minimize hygiene waste. And, of course, I shop at the farmers market with reusable bags, while staying hydrated with my metal water bottle!!! I love to see this lifestyle becoming more trendy. Thank you so much for sharing your tips and tricks for a less wasteful lifestyle!

[@meghanhughes]

amazing

[@helenroxanne1493]

can you elaborate on your zero waste toilet paper? You got right into crocheting, but I am confused as to whether you also crochet/reuse TP type products? Genuinely curious, not trying to be rude. I am at a loss as to what completely waste free TP could be. Leaves?! lol I am actually looking for solutions....

[@cruzjade97]

My partner had the idea to reuse our old tshirts as reusable "poo naps." Our method seems strange, but it works for us, and I have no complaints. We re-purposed an old spray bottle and filled it with water to spray ourselves clean after using the restroom. Then we use the fabric squares to dry. If you clean enough before wiping you should not have any residue on your fabric squares. These fabric squares are soaked in a cleaning solution and then washed! And because they are soaked before being washed I am able to just throw them in with other rags and towels to combine loads of laundry! We have been doing this for over a year and I was a bit hesitant at first, since women can run into more health issues with this approach, but I have had no issues. (Obviously, I use different fabric squares for #1 and #2) The only problem I've run into is that guests refuse to use our restroom! lol

[@helenroxanne1493]

lmfao about your guests! I can only imagine haha. I think it will take QUITE a lot of doing for my own partner to get into something like this, but I love the idea. Maybe he will get on board for me using this method and eventually come around. Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it! I was truly mystified. Sounds like an excellent approach.

[@Aisom97]

“Package Free” store in Brooklyn, NY is a great alternative way to buy some of these items as they shop all of their products with zero waste packaging. They have all the items Meghan mentioned :) thanks for the great video meg!!!

[@ashleymack6890]

I'm currently doing my graduate studies in sustainability and love videos like this. Every little step helps 💕

[@katomesse13]

I know this isn't your skincare video, but I switched to basically all of the products you used and my skin has cleared up SO* much. Thank you so much for recommending the Herbalism and essential oils. They are seriously helping my skin.

[@katomesse13]

Also, yes! Please do a gardening video. Maybe incorporate how to garden in smaller places? I will be in college next year, but my dorms allow us to garden in a small section in front of our dorms.

[@alexamichele8071]

saw the blue hammock chair and immediately clicked 💞 so nostalgic because I’ve been watching you since the beginning

[@MsShopaholic03]

I was just about to buy the stainless steel straws when I watched this video. Now my amazon cart is filled with the dryer balls, reusable cotton pads, bamboo toothbrushes, and more! Saving the planet wooooo! :)

[@SF-kc6zv]

Yaaasss!!! Love this ❤️❤️❤️❤️ I’m pretty far along my zero waste journey, but I still have so many more things I can do :) my next adventures are going to be brewing my own kombucha, and canning! I can get those things in recyclable packaging, but reusable bottles and jars are SO much better, because recycling requires a lot of energy and it still produces waste

[@kassidy4458]

I've always been really eco-conscious and done whatever I can to help the planet. It makes me really sad though that so many people don't know they're destroying the world we live in. It's amazing to see you using your platform for good ☺️

[@Evie-pq1gs]

Some find this weird but instead of cleaning my ears with q-tips I take a bobby pin and I use the loop end to clean my ears! I find it so much more satisfying and I feel like it cleans my ears more than a q-tip plus I never have to buy q-tips I just clean off the end and have it ready when I want to clean my ears again! For those thinking it’s nasty I have one designated bobby pin I use for cleaning my ears that I keep in a clean place :p

[@beth5174]

this is such a good tip honestly you just changed the game

[@fallwhispers07]

Evie it's not healthy actually to clean the ear wax, it has a protective role in the ears. Actually you shouldn't put anything in the ears

[@isabellaruiz4874]

I have never commented on KZbin before but I just really wanted to share that I am so grateful for the joy and knowledge you share on your channel. This is helped me realize how easy going green can be. You have changed my life and made a wonderful positive impact that I get to share in other peoples life as well. You keep me smiling thank you Miss Meghan!

[@kaylaandorfer447]

This video makes my heart sing!!! Another recommendation for food waste - Keep a container in the freezer and throw in all your veggie scraps to make a stock. I keep a stock pot and fill it with scraps from mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes, celery, carrots, onions, etc. Once the pot is full I fill it with water and let everything simmer for about an hour. Strain the veggies out and store the liquid in the fridge to use in recipes that call for veggie broth or stock. This is my fave life hack :) Note that there are some veggies that don't do well in a stock so just be sure to research a bit. Pinterest has some great resources on what you can and can't use!

[@HitomiMochizuki222]

I spent the weekend reading that Nat Geo mag cause of you it’s so good!! And has a bunch of other cool articles( like how trees talk to each other & how the earth with look 250 million years from now) so I RECOMMEND ALSO 10/10. Thank u for this video !!

[@meghanhughes]

thank YOU for bein great ily Hitomi!!!

[@mitchellprice5586]

I've started to use reusable shopping bags. I work in a grocery store as a cashier so I'm very aware of the amount of plastic bags we go through not even in a day, but just in the length of my shift. It's horrific, really. We don't even keep a good stock of paper bags at our registers because no one wants them even though they're stronger than the shitty plastic bags that are so easily accessible at the register. It really drives me nuts when people insist on double bagging their items when it's totally unnecessary, too. I wasn't even told to ask 'paper or plastic' during my training or any time since but now that you've brought that to my attention I'm definitely going to. Thank you so much for making this video, you brought a lot of stuff to my mind that I either didn't know or had forgotten. I really appreciate the effort you put into linking everything you mentioned too, thank you so much Meg. Have a great one! 🌻💛

[@abner2244]

My internship this summer is a skip the straw campaign and I just got back from a meeting with some professionals who focus on preventing single-use plastics from entering the ocean and then THIS VIDEO IS UP wow love you so much keep spreading the truth

[@ashleycorriveau136]

Ive been vegetarian two years now, just planted my first garden, i carry reusable bags in my purse for groceries or general shopping needs. Im informing myself more about composting!! im really excited to start, and where i live they will be making everyone have a compost bin that will be picked up monthly SO EXCITING!

[@LuxCulvre]

I've been on a slow transition the past couple of months of going waste free, and so naturally I'm binging all of your videos to educate myself even further. Things I currently do, are of course bring my reusable water bottle everywhere (I'm dehydrated constantly and so it has a permanent place in my car cup holder.) I started bringing the CUTEST reusable jar to my coffee shop since I go there almost everyday. And now my collection of reusable shopping bags is growing and making me oh so happy. I actually forgot to stick them back in my car yesterday and made an impromptu trip to grab some sandwich items and ended up walking out of there physically holding turkey, cheese and cookies lol

[@thetootallgirl]

🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 I am so so so so happy about that video ! I started my less-wast-lifestyle (lol) about a year ago when I saw the lindsey's video with you mom ! And now I try to be more conscious about what I use ! It is so encouraging to see someone who is not 40 caring about it ! I am 20 and my friends just do not care about that kind of stuff and I am so very happy that you care !

[@meghanhughes]

im so happy that so many young people are more interested in helping the planet that we & our kids will live on for years to come!

[@ash-vj5vn]

I recently bought a vegan razor made from recycled plastic so I’m going to start buying new blades for my razors instead of tossing out the whole thing once it becomes dull!!

[@aliavictoria5617]

Ella Hendrickson what brand?

[@ash-vj5vn]

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019Y366KQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It's by the brand "preserve"

[@MaryEatsMonkeys]

If you can find one, an all metal safety razor is much better for the environment. Recycled plastic is only partially recycled and still adds to the amount of plastic produced. They can be somewhat pricy but it's worth the investment considering they last a lot longer. Good luck on your journey!

[@ash-vj5vn]

MaryEatsMonkeys thank you! I’ve considered safety razors, but in the end, I would still have to dispose of it eventually. They also look somewhat like a torture device, and the idea of using it to shave certain areas of the body somewhat terrifies me haha. I’ll definitely keep safety razors in mind!

[@Birdiescabin]

The fact that the humming flew by...while you are speaking about all these great things❤️

[@charleyleske1666]

Started my change over with a safety razor couple of months ago, couldn’t believe the difference in this product- also managed to change my mum and boyfriend over to safety razors when they noticed how good mine was and how much easier and cheaper they are in the long term, plus no plastic! Really want to stop using kitchen roll, I think out of everything I use at home that is probably one of my biggest wastes, I use it for everything, every meal I have I take a tissue with me, most the time I don’t even use it. So that’s my first step to change, I’ll use what I have left sparingly and then no more tissue roll It’s such a mental state to get into, we are so accustomed to just using what ever we have we don’t even think about the repercussions of what we are using, really love this video Meghan such a important topic and life change! 🌍

[@aashleyk78]

Yes! I will start to make the change to natural laundry soap, the dryer ball, reusable grocery bags, start to recycle and only buy things I can recycle. Thanks for this video, I found out so many things I can do here in college to better the environment.

[@elisabetevareiro5762]

love the final music!! Nahko , love it, love it!! I'm using bamboo toothbrush, bought also a reusable stainless steel water bottle, take tote bags to my groceries shopping, my beauty and higene products are almost all cruelty free, i say no to plastic straws and i'm a vegetarian for 6 months now!! woop wooooop really proud of myself :D thanks for the tips, i'm still learning!

[@magdalenakosut5024]

thank you so much for this video, so informative! I'd love to see more videos from you on this topic in the future, you could make it a series and we could all learn together lol ! as for removing makeup, muslin cloths paired with an oil/cleanser (not necessarily coconut as it can be very comedogenic for acne prone and oily peeps) are a great alternative. you can buy a pack for cheap and then throw them in the wash after each use! also, about being vegetarian/vegan - I think it can be an overwhelming prospect for some people, but you don't necessarily have to commit to it fully. even having 2-3 vegetarian/vegan days a week and educating yourself on where and how to shop most ethically (eg. buying eggs/dairy from local, small businesses) can make a huge difference. everything counts!

[@hannahrose8541]

Every morning I add my used coffee grounds to my compost pile and rip up the paper coffee filter and put that in there as well! Plants love it man!

[@hymkemeijer]

This video makes me so happy! We always clean on the beach when we go for a walk, and last year our beach got chosen as the cleanest beach in the Netherlands!!

[@rcd2000]

We have two composte bins outside and it REALLY cut down on waste. We use it on our garden. We also recycle and use pyrex instead of Tupperware. We use reusable bags and try to fix everything we rip/break.

[@Jesscgomez]

We love a sustainable gal! I took a biology class called "human impact on the environment" and I learned so much on how terrible humans are to our planet. I'm definitely going to try to be more aware of my actions and thank you!

[@anna-elizabethkritski8356]

Meghan you have really inspired me to live plastic and waste free. I dont use plastic cutlery or straws I have stainless steel straws and a reusable plastic cutlery set that I got my universities green team. I do recycling in my room so If i have little papers I collect them in a paper shopping bag and toss em in the blue bin. I also try not to purchase food thats not from home its a lot of garbage that comes along with it and I’d rather pack myself a plastic free lunch or snack in my reusable tupperware. I always carry a reusable water bottle with me and am constantly refilling it. I currently trying to adopt a vegetarian diet. My friends often make jokes about the things that I do but I know that I am slowly making an impact and its for the good of miss mother nature 🌎

[@plantycassy]

I’ve already switched to a bamboo toothbrush and stainless steel straws! I always refuse plastic straws, napkins, etc. I really want to get myself a diva cup and now I’m going to switch to composting and compostable q-tips.

[@ms-um4bx]

i've actually had my menstrual cup for a while now (and you're actually one of the people who inspired me to get one) and it's one of the best decisions i've ever made! knowing that i've reduced my use on disposable period products is such a great feeling!! it's honestly very difficult to live a waste-free life in my place, but i am slowly trying to do little things in order to save our planet. thank you meghan for using your platform for things like these!!

[@mikaylahey]

I somehow found myself in the sustainable students committee at my local community college and it has been the most life changing thing for me so far. We provide students with sustainable products like the straws and toothbrushes you showed! We have also given out bees wraps for produce and there is a huge garden on campus that provides fresh fruits and vegetables to students and other community members. I love Eugene, Oregon!!!!

[@CrystalDelCid]

YESSS THE DIVA CUP!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 I’ve been using it for over a year now and lord have I saved money & cut down on my period waste. I swear by it and anytime I hear someone talking about it I get so excited!

[@banannabelles]

You rock all of the socks. I love my Hydroflask because it's gigantic and stays cold forever. If you guys ever get sick of Oregon, you're more than welcome to come hang out in Vermont with me, girl, you'd fit right in with us crunchy Vermonters! P.S. Thanks to you, blossom cup is in my life and I could not be happier. Midway through this video I ordered some Thinx.

[@ootdbyolivia7659]

I absolutely love how you use your influence to spread a positive message! I love you Megs!

[@yourproblematicfavorite2723]

The little note at the end made me feel so much better😌 i felt weird about watching this while drinking water out of a plastic bottle... tell larry i love him

[@mikaylalynn6448]

I started my vegetarian lifestyle last December, and I couldn't be loving it more! Not only am I helping the precious animals, and our very own mama earth, I mentally and physically feel soooo much more alert and at peace with myself! If anyone is thinking of researching it, or giving vegetarianism a try, please do, you won't be sorry!

[@harleyshay8677]

I love this video so much! So many people, myself included, are so under informed about recycling and the damage it does. My goal for the rest of the year is to learn more about how to recycle and the damage we cause with our waste, as well as make small changes. I’m gonna go buy towels to replace my paper towels and dryer balls to replace my dryer sheets!! Love you meg! Thanks for being an inspiration you eco-friendly ball of sunshine 🌞💛

[@blousemouse]

I love you. Like the way you talk about your mum man. You’re so chill. I love it.

[@blousemouse]

P.s I love this because I don’t feel overwhelmed at all, like you’re so nice and down to earth like you’re not super mad and harassing in your videos. I fricken love. Bless🙌🏼

[@Paramoreex0]

LOVE THIS VIDEO! So many good points. I work for a retail store and the amount of waste we create or have to throw away is so upsetting. Also when people ask for a plastic bag for one item. It’s ridiculous.

[@haley2684]

I work at Whole Foods and most of this stuff I figured out due to working there!! I'm so glad you made this video to educate others. All of this information is so important!!

[@naomikaminski4768]

Hey Meg! I never really comment on videos but I just wanted to say that I love the message you're conveying with your most recent videos! Ever since moving away for University and living on my own I have noticed that my roommates and I are producing so much waste and I couldn't think of any ways to reduce it. Thank you for this video I will definitely be buying some of the items you mentioned and I'll be having a chat with my roommates about this to see how we can cut down on our waste production. I love how you mentioned soap and body wash too since I was on the hunt for a more natural option :)

[@kjs498]

My best friend from college started making eco-friendly changes last year, so she got me to start making small changes as well! One of the biggest things I've done is cut out beef. Not just for health reasons (lowering my cholesterol intake since some people in my family have had heart issues), but also because it's more eco-friendly. The beef industry has a much bigger carbon footprint compared to the poultry industry. I love the taste of meat too much to give it up completely, but this small change is something I feel so good about that I probably won't go back to eating beef again.

[@elizabethmccabe7454]

I’m going to California with my boyfriend for a month for work. Since we’ll be in a hotel the whole time, we won’t be able to cook meals so we’ll be eating out pretty much the whole time. Definitely going to invest in some of my own personal, reusable to-go containers, straws, and a silverware set. I feel like that will DEFINITELY cut down on the waste while we’re out there. Thanks for the tips!!

[@katielowery1895]

Thanks for this vid Meghan. You are doing good in the world! I'm for sure gonna get the muslin bags and the safety razor once I get through my disposable ones. Also going to keep a reusable container in my bag when I go out to eat (it always makes me mad when I ask for a to go box and they give me a styrofoam container!!) Also, one other HUGE way to help the environment is by buying from thrift stores instead of regular clothing stores. So many clothes get thrown into landfills! Also donate your own clothes to places like goodwill or thrift stores (or pass them along to someone else) when you are cleaning out your closet.

[@Raahwindd]

I love how you are getting into this around the same time I am. Some gardening videos would be lovely

[@rebeccawitzofsky7698]

Can you please caption your video? Deaf people would love to get more information on helping the planet! (The auto captions are missing a lot of words)

[@PanicItsKendra]

Hi meg, I second this!! You have so much awesome information to share & there are so many people who could benefit, but do not have access because the auto captions are notoriously inaccurate 🌻

[@rebeccawitzofsky7698]

Thirty people want to see accurate captions Meg! Access to education is important!

[@alisonwright9532]

Im recently made the transition to hand washing and air drying all my clothes! Its something ive been meaning to do for a while and its way easier than I thought it would be! It was mostly a matter of trying it for the first time and figuring out a way that worked for me (also I loved this video, thank you so much for using your platform to get word out about waste!)

[@NaturalEmblem]

YES I loved this!! I have started only using reusable bags, produce bags, boutta order reusable straws, recycle EVERYTHING, etc, etc. This is SUCH an important issue to me, thank you for making this, Imma get one of those tiffins!

[@shlerb]

I stopped using plastic straws recently at restaurants and I’ve been encouraging everyone I eat with to not do it. My friend even bought a reusable straw after I told her about plastic waste! Sometimes I’ll mindlessly open and use a straw and get really sad, but I’m breaking the habit in myself and trying to convince the people around me to do the same!

[@abbieb6403]

I am vegan but I need to work on my plastic use and thankfully the supermarkets where I live are about to ban plastic bags and minimise their use of plastic as much as possible!!! I can't wait to continuously work on my self to reduce waste xx

[@sharonlacruz6499]

This video is SO helpful! This year, I decided to be more environmentally friendly but I’m starting small, so I’ve stopped using plastic bags. I’d get mine from TJMaxx cuz they’re so freakin cute! I have two of the huge bags cuz u could always bring it Incase i buy something big. Though awhile after I saw how they actually had tote bags which were way cuter! I have 3 in total and one is bigger than the other two which is a perfect size for bagging up clothes! A “tip” that I do so as to not lug it around while it’s empty and I’m shopping, I’ll just roll it up really tight and stuff it in my purse. It’s a medium sized bag and I typically only have the necessities so it fits perfectly fine in there! I always get compliments on how cute the bags are, and also when I tell the cashier that they don’t need to bag anything, since I’ve brought my own. This was helpful in the sense that after I purchase my reusable straws, and being more environmentally conscious, I didn’t know the next step to mundane occurrences like take-out, or packing up your veggies when you go to the grocery store! Thank you so much for that and I’m purchasing those items right away!! 😊😊😊

[@malachilane7930]

Ordering the straws right away, I have a smoothie EVERY morning dare I say and have been looking for a plastic straw alternative!! Thank you!

[@abbygize]

So glad you made this video!! I feel like being more conscious of how much waste we as humans produce gets overwhelming. While I have wanted to start for a while now, it was just so much to think of. Thank you for this video meg!!

[@rebeccamononen4132]

Thank you!! I’ve been following your mom on Instagram for a couple weeks now and she’s an inspiration... truly! I’ve been really trying to minimize my waste and there are so many ways to do this and I sometimes get overwhelmed! This video kinda rationalized it and took all my thoughts and like made sense from them! I’m gonna go make a list of all the things in this video and slowly save Mother Earth one step at a time!!

[@meghanhughes]

i think it can feel overwhelming at first but its really just switching to alternatives & not using the old stuff & practicing awareness!

[@rebeccamononen4132]

Meghan Hughes ugh yes!!! Meg you’re an inspiration and an idol to me!

[@kassidisullivan7588]

This video truly inspired me to want to take steps in the right direction. I’m going to start with reusable straws, no makeup wipes, and reusable bags when grocery shopping and go from there 😌. Thank you for this video.

[@oliviadorman390]

i’ve been waiting for this video for so long! i’m so happy you made it and included so many helpful tips! love you meg !

[@Kate-bo6sb]

This may stupid and obvious, but the best way for me to FINALLY stop using plastic bags was to find really cute canvas bags that I love. It makes me excited to use them and makes me remember them more easily. While there are small things I do around my home, the habit I am trying to kick now is plastic straws. Your mom is so inspiring, and while going zero waste really overwhelms me, I really love hearing about small habits I can change to be just generally better.

[@emmabertrand3]

THANK YOU!! I have been searching for zero waste toilet paper FOREVER!!! Bless you!

[@isadorakuipers6156]

It is crazy that some of the biggest cities in the states don't have a recycle bin next to the garbage bin!!! I am from Vancouver, BC and literally any garbage bin anywhere always has a recycle bin right beside it. Also loved this video Meghan. I am for sure going to implement some of these suggestions into my life. Thank you!

[@gracebarstowchristopher1307]

i started on my zero waste journey a few months ago and im so excited to see you making videos about it!!!!!!

[@rachk4556]

I've watched so many of these type of videos but you make it so interesting and inspiring! I would love more videos about composting. I live in an apartment and have always been too scared to do it

[@AmandasBuns]

I absolutely loved this video! Thank you for spreading the word in such a positive way! One way that I am changing to help the environment is by using bamboo toothbrushes that come in biodegradable packaging! Also I am helping my family recycle and sort their plastics better :) I want to start using a shampoo that doesn't come in plastic packaging and shampoo bars seemed intimidating so I'm glad you shared the plaine products company!! WOO Edit: I am showing my parents this video as we speak and they are LOVING it! Thank you Meghan!

[@emmakelly5528]

Meg I swear you read my mind I just this week I really felt I just really wanted to be more eco friendly and sustainable and my personal fight is within the fashion industry which is the SECOND MOST POLUTED INDUSTRY after oil. I shop primarily in charity shops and use it as an opportunity to make it something new and fitting for my style. I currently working towards getting a great pattern so I can start making a bralett that fits me perfect xx I'm thinking of once I’ve really developed my skills to a commercial point selling customs online. Anyone reading who maybe isn't so much into sewing (I get it I study fashion that's why this is where I focus) you can recycle your clothes at loads of places one being h&m where they make it into either new clothes in store or fibres for insulation alternatively sell on depop or Take it to charity xxx

[@nikiiatrides2873]

Watch cowspiracy brothas!!!

[@beth5174]

**scrolls down the comments of every Meg vid to thumbs up the subtle vegan comments**

[@thejokingjenkins2654]

Yes! Easily the biggest change you can make to help lessen environmental damage is going vegan. Wish people talked about this more.

[@Bronxchick92]

Another good documentary which I recently watched on Netflix is Plastic Ocean and I was happy I discovered it when I heard the name on a zero waste for a week BuzzFeed India video.

[@Ls20]

we all need to be more environmentally sexy ppl so bless up for this vid. ALSO I use microfiber cloths to remove my makeup in the shower and haven't bought makeup wipes/remover in years! they're super cheap too.

[@johnclaybaugh9536]

So plastic. Lol.

[@Abigail-nv4ep]

i love your comments about styrofoam containers. we have a little diner right by my house that uses compostable cardboard to go containers, so wonderful.

[@lisasmart8900]

More gardening videos Meg!!

[@essargee14]

yay, I love this video! another idea is to stop supporting fast fashion companies. the more we make our clothing disposable, the more we feel we need to buy new clothes on a weekly/monthly basis and the "old" clothes that we no longer want just get thrown straight into the landfill. we should shop from clothes that already exist in the world - thrift stores, clothing swaps, ethical fashion companies that make clothes out of recycled materials!

[@conniewoollen9104]

this is amazing - especially the tip on freezing compost because my compost bin gets soooooooo smelly so quickly!!

[@taylorwilliams4179]

Gonna switch to using a stainless steel razor. Using a tiffan or lunch box. Reuseable grocery bags and water bottle. And have been looking into lush shampoo and what not free from packaging. Thank you Meghan for this video!

[@krysteeenuhh]

Girl I immediately went and bought reusable straws after watching this, what a helpful video! 💖

[@halliegurba7231]

I’m about to go to college so this is SO helpful!!! I pray my roommates will be chill with it and maybe adapt to it too!!

[@KeelyStagg]

Definitely going to look into using the dryer balls!! I already try to reduce my waste in lots of the ways you mentioned but I had no idea there was an alternative to dryer sheets. Also I'm not super into the idea of using a diva cup but hadn't thought about thinx. Thank you for this video!

[@fragilendfrantic]

SO EXCITED YOU FILMED THIS! I am waiting or a few products to come in mail to film one myself. I took an environmental bio class, and i'm so interested in enlightening the world on the issues we face and how in danger our earth is! Thank you for educating your following.

[@KaiEVette]

Meg I love love LOVE this video!!!! YAAASSS KWEEN!!!!!

[@elisechambers5164]

I’ve been following your mom on Instagram for months, I love her Instagram so much and it actually always encourages me !!

[@cinnayeon_]

i love this video! i've been trying to only buy cruelty free products for a few years now, but zero waste is important too :) thank you for the tips, meghan 🖤 at my university, we have a grocery store and i've noticed i'm the only person who brings a reusable bag. i will try to be more sustainable in every aspect of my life!

[@animeotaku8909]

I didn’t know compostable wipes were a thing! I don’t use them too often but I’ll definitely switch over to them. I learned so much, thank you!

[@vanessakaelyn6650]

omg the ENERGY in this video!! thank you so much!! (ps i would LOVEEEE if you made this into a series its so important)

[@alyssataliaferro1317]

I’m definitely going to use reusable grocery bags at the grocery store. I’ve definitely considered going vegan but its difficult. Im also really interested in several of the products you mentioned like the dryer balls. I’d like to buy more rags so I use less paper towels and when I have a house I will definitely compost! I’m very interested in this topic and really really enjoyed this video!! Love you so much!

[@RayAnneMarie]

Thank you for this video! Just another kick in the butt to try and start composting my food! I don't have a garden but I think I will start one and start composting as soon as i get more info!! And more recycling! I have a big recycling place near me and I will be doing that as often as possible!

[@gianna42]

this is really helpful meg! i’ve been trying to make small changes in my life to become more environmentally conscious and this gave me a lot of great ideas :-) i’m going to parsons next year, and one of the required freshman classes is sustainable systems or something like that where you learn to make your art sustainable and create less waste while doing what you love!! it’s interesting because i never really thought about art as wasteful, but if you think of all the supplies and everything you use it adds up. much love xx

[@wisteria_love]

Love this video Meghan!! I’ve been low impact for a while now, it’s hard but it’s worth it for the environment

[@NatAttack727]

I use the Erase Your Face cloths from Bed Bath & Beyond. You can use them and rinse them out several times. They are great for removing makeup and when they get too dirty then I throw them in the washer. I could not believe how much money I used to spend on makeup remover wipes before I got these. Saves you money and the planet.

[@Joliada87]

I already use a diva cup but still like to have that extra protection of a liner. For now I'm still using disposable ones but I'm going to switch to thinx panties or reusable liners!

[@actinggurl101]

THANK YOU MEGHAN!!!! This video is so so important and I will most definitely be implementing these tips into my daily life!

[@ltellis63]

Thanks for this video. I've been thinking of getting some reusable cotton rounds for taking off makeup, etc. After watching this, I finally got off the fence and ordered some.

[@pmonsteriful]

Thank you so much for this Meghan!! I've recently received my stainless steel straws, but I keep forgetting to bring them to restaurants with me and/or ask for no straw. That's a little thing that I'm working on; so far this year I've been pretty good with using reusable bags at the store. And my boyfriend started a compost bin with worms that eat the compost, and their waste is used for soil :) Next thing I would really like to try is the wool dryer ball, diva cup and a tiffin!!!!

[@pmonsteriful]

www.terracycle.com/en-US also check out this link for a company that recycles "non recyclables" :)